feast (completed)

37. caramelize

"Kakilala mo yun?" Melay asked Dea as they walked away from the coffee shop.

"Hindi. Kita ko kasi si Ate nag-cry dun sa table nya. Sad sya."

"Bakit daw sya sad?"

"May sick daw yung friend nya..."

"Boyfriend?"

"Hmm...bibigay nya yun boyfriend nya ng donut para get well na sya agad. Tapos si Ate Stacy, di na rin mag-cry...diba bigay din ako ni Mama ng donut pag nag cry ako? Sabi ko Ate Stacy eat din sya donut para happy na sya, di na sya cry..."

"Ahh..."

"Mama!" Dea ran toward Meng who emerged from the grocery.

"Hi Baby. Wipe mo yung mouth mo. Puro chocolate..."

"Tissue please..."

"...hindi ka ba binigyan ng tissue dun sa coffee shop?" Meng said as she handed Dea a baby wipe.

"...ahh give ko dun kay Ate Stacy.."

"Ate Stacy?"

"Hmm...cry kasi sya...may sick daw yun boyfriend nya kaya sya na-cry..."

"Ah"

"...eat sya donut tapos give din nya yun boyfriend nya donut para di na sila sad..."

"Hmm..." Meng couldn't quite figure out Dea's logic but nodded anyway. "...ready ka na umuwi? Magluluto pa tayo ng dinner..."

"Yes!"

"Ano po iyon?"

"Yes po! Go home na po tayo!"

Supporting Dea's love for the kitchen, both Meng and Rj made sure to include her in their menu planning and food ordering when they went out to eat. "Hmm...may chicken po ba tayo?"

"Hmm..meron..ano bang gusto mong luto ng chicken tonight? Roast chicken?"

"Hmm...honey lemon garlic chicken with pasta...yun flat na noodles..."

"Fettucini?"

"Hmm...basta yun flat..."

"Okay! May vegetables?"

"Hmm..gusto ko ng broccoli and cauliflower..."

"Okay..."

"Gusto din ni Ahtay ng broccoli diba?"

"Hmm...siguro..."

"Kita ko sya i-eat nya yun broccoli na cook ni Mita e..."

"Hmm..." Meng was amused at how Dea was so observant and could recall details of things especially when it involved food and eating. Aside from liver, Rj didn't really like eating broccoli. "They feel funny in the mouth and they taste...eeew!" He'd complain. But, both he and Meng agreed that they would raise their children appreciating and discovering food tastes and textures on their own so, even if he detested broccoli, he ate it especially when Dea was around.

Dea got out the ingredients as soon as they got home. She also 'supervised' in preparing the vegetables used for the dish. She sat on a bar stool and watched as Meng and Yaya Gloria cooked dinner. She was the 'official' taste tester and quality control.

"Ahtay, you eat vegetables? Teacher said we should each vegetables so we won't get sick..."

"Well...yeah...but..."

"...you eat pa broccoli and cauliflower o..." Dea pointed to the dish of vegetables on the table.

"Bawal tumanggi..." Meng said under her breath.